In a recent survey conducted in the UK, it was found that more than half of school librarians have been asked to remove books from their shelves, with many of these requests focusing on LGBTQ+ titles. The investigation, carried out by the Index on Censorship, revealed that 53% of the librarians surveyed had received requests to remove books, with over half of these requests resulting in the books being taken off the shelves. In some cases, librarians were instructed to remove all books with LGBTQ+ themes following a single complaint from a parent. Notable titles that faced complaints include “This Book Is Gay” by Juno Dawson and “Julián is a Mermaid” by Jessica Love.
Several schools also faced challenges regarding books such as the “Heartstopper” series by Alice Oseman, which were criticized for homophobic language, swearing, and discussions of self-harm. Many of the requests for book removals came directly from parents, leading to concerns among librarians about potential job repercussions if they refused to comply with the removal requests. Some librarians reported discreetly offering off-the-record loans from a back cupboard to students who still wanted access to the removed books, while others faced attempts by parents to have them fired for allowing their child to read LGBTQ+ content.
The trend of book censorship in the UK may be influenced by similar trends in the US, where book bans reached record highs in the 2022-2023 school year. According to PEN America, there were 1,477 instances of book bans affecting 874 unique titles in the US during that time period. Themes that were commonly targeted for censorship included violence and physical abuse, health and wellbeing topics, race and racism discussions, and LGBTQ+ characters or themes. In response to these growing censorship trends, nearly 200 celebrities in the US, including Ariana Grande, Guillermo del Toro, and Mark Ruffalo, signed a petition against book bans as part of an initiative led by LeVar Burton.
Burton, known for his role in “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and as the host of “Reading Rainbow,” emphasized the importance of upholding artistic freedom and embracing multicultural history in the face of book bans. He expressed concern over the banning of books featuring Black and queer characters, calling on everyone to raise their voices against censorship. The petition and efforts to combat book bans aim to preserve the diversity of voices and perspectives in literature and ensure that readers have access to a wide range of stories and ideas. In the UK, librarians continue to navigate challenges related to book censorship, working to maintain access to diverse and inclusive literature for all students.
